Finally, the month of December is here! The “Christmasy feel” is knocking on our hearts as November ends soon. We already are close to Jesus from within, but a spiritual feeling and Him being around us, watching upon us is what we feel. The winter is in full swing bringing in the feel of the festival. Older generations become nostalgic about how their parents used to organize the festival and what was their definition of having fun on Christmas Eve. Relatives, friends, and family members start discussing ways to celebrate this year. In the middle of that discussion, the previous years’ celebrations are also discussed.
The celebration of Christmas Eve should be a reflection of love and selflessness taught by the savior. The spirit of the festival helps us to soften our hearts. We feel for those in need, enemies are forgiven, old matters are settled with a tearful smile and a tight hug, and the spirit to celebrate reaches new heights. He is there, watching all of it with a smile on His face too, maybe shedding a tear or two. Let the fun and frolic begin.
The traditions and customs:
Discussing the traditions puts us in the zone of the festival. All of us have ways to celebrate the said festival. Someone’s ways have modernized while some people still celebrate it traditionally. Visiting the church is the most divine feeling ever. All of us become vulnerable when we kneel before Him. We come across a gush of mixed emotions. Calm, emotional, happy, positive, and often we shed a tear without anybody noticing. Some more traditions we follow are:
Decorating the Christmas Tree:
The fir tree has been used for many years to decorate for thousands of years. The pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter season, as it made them think of spring to come. The Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples during the festival of Saturnalia, which eventually became Christmas. The Christmas tree idea gained popularity when Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert brought one from Germany in 1841 and placed it in Windsor Castle.
Sing Christmas Eve carols:
No Christmas is celebrated without the Christmas Eve carols. Be it in the church or at your place, the joy and the connection you feel with Him is immeasurable. The age-old tradition of caroling is still alive even today. Enjoying the tunes of hymns and carols while being in the vicinity of your loved ones is the vibe all of us crave.
Writing a letter to Santa (his reindeer too):
Santa and his reindeer, Rudolph, are believed to be traveling the whole world on the sleigh delivering gifts to children. The children too, with their innocence keep carrots for the reindeer, and cookies for Santa to savor. The night before Christmas Eve is the most exciting for kids, and parents and elders too, become kids while witnessing twinkle in the eyes of the children.
Spending time with people you love:
Christmas Eve is all about celebrating the festival with the people you love. The inner circle of your family is the people you want to be with and around. We believe the visuals of a family celebrating Christmas Eve relishing baked cookies, the gingerbread house, singing the “family-favorite” carols, and snuggling up in one blanket while watching a Christmas movie is the best kind to rejoice.
Lip-smacking Global Christmas Delicacies:
The delicacies taste just wow during the festival especially, isn’t it? If you take notice, all the delicacies taste even better than usual. It is believed that the delicacies are made with pure love and affection that adds to the taste of it. All parts have the world on their way of preparing various dishes for the festival. Let’s get immersed into the flavors of it and imagine us having the same. Here are some delicacies from around the world:
1. Christmas pudding: England 🇬🇧
A traditional dish with many names. Plum pudding or figgy pudding are the synonyms and it is served in England during the festival. It acts as a stand-out dish because it doesn’t have any plums in it. Earlier, raisins were known as plums in the Victorian era. So the name plum pudding. It is made of molasses, dried fruits, suet, spices, and eggs.
2. Stollen: Greece 🇬🇷
Famously known as Weihnachtsstolle or Christollen, is a sugarcoated bread that is packed with marzipan, rum, and dried fruits. This fruit cake is long and flat and often resembles a fruit cake.
3. Feast of Seven Fishes: Italy 🇮🇹
This is a traditional Italian dinner that has a seven-course menu. Known as Festa Dei Sette Pesci, a foodie can enjoy octopus, carp, calamari, mussels, shrimp, and fried eel. Not to forget the Italian Panettone that is a traditional tiramisu.
4. Kolaczki cookies: Poland 🇮🇹
Stuffed with raspberry and apricot jam, cream cheese or sour cream also adds flavor to this variety of fillings. These cookies are folded specially and topped with confectioner’s sugar immediately before serving. It adds to the flavor and is quite flavorsome.
Here is a short and sweet Christmas poem we would love to share with you all. A poem by Norman Wesley Brooks:
Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
Loving, sharing, and giving, are not to be put away
Like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is the good you do for yourself.
Customs of Christmas in Other Areas
1. Philippines:
In the Philippines, the city of San Fernando celebrates the Ligligan Parul (the festival of giant lanterns). It features dazzling parols that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Each parol consists of thousands of spinning lights that illuminate the night sky. This festival has made San Fernando the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.
2. Sweden:
The Yule Goat is a Swedish Christmas symbol dating back to ancient pagan festivals. In 1966, the tradition underwent a transition. Someone came up with the idea of making a giant straw goat, now referred to as the Gavle goat. According to the official website, the goat is more than 42 feet tall, 23 feet wide, and weighs 3.6 tons. Fans can livestream every year the construction of it on Sunday of Advent.
3. Finland:
On Christmas morning, Finish families make a porridge of rice and milk topped with cinnamon, milk, or butter. Whoever finds the almond in the porridge wins. Of course, to please the kids some families make sure it comes into their plates and they aren’t upset during the festive environment.
4. Barbados:
A typical scene in Barbados is of a table with a baked ham decked up with pineapple and sorrel glazes, a rum cake, and Jug Jug, a dish inspired by the Scottish influence on the island combining of pigeon peas, corn flour, herbs, and salt meat.
Lesser Known Facts about Christianity:
- The United States of America has the highest Christian population:
With almost 225 million Christians or about 70% of the population in the United States of America remains the nation of the Christians.
- The average age of Christians around the world is 30 years:
The number is similar to the global average age. The Muslim population in general is much younger, with an average age of 23.
- Jews and Christians have a higher education than any other religious group in the world:
The number of years for formal education for Jews and Christians is 13.4 and 9.3 years respectively. Muslims and Hindus are the two main religious groups with the lowest formal education, with an average of 5.6 years.
- Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the founder and central figure of Christianity:
Every single aspect of Christianity is influenced by the life and teachings of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate and that only through Him can people be saved and have a place in heaven.
Conclusion:
Christmas Eve is the most awaited part of the year. People keep on making plans for that particular day. At this time all the resentment and rage are long gone. Relatives, friends, and families come together to make the most of this time by creating memories till the next Christmas Eve. The house is filled with joy and bliss. May we all learn to give, just more and more giving, without expecting anything in return!
We immediately assume to get something from someone, but practicing selflessness will take you miles. Let’s take a plunge to help those in need, and bring blossom to their lives. Our hearts are so full after writing this blog. Merry Christmas to all of you. Have a great one and keep showering your love on us. Hope you had a good read. HAPPY SOLSTICE!
